Established in July 2014, John Gray Ltd offers an extensive range of turnkey construction services to domestic and commercial clients in the South-East. The fast-growing company guarantees outstanding workmanship, innovation, complete customer satisfaction and value-for-money.
Based in Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford and covering counties Wexford, Wicklow, Carlow, Kilkenny and Waterford, John Gray Ltd specialises in new builds, extensions, refurbishments, alterations, groundworks and demolition. It aims to provide a professional service to customers without compromising on quality and only uses the very best building materials. The contractor’s reputation for quality construction is borne out by the high volume of repeat business it receives from satisfied customers.
“We do the best that we can. We work with our clients in every aspect of the project and will always go the extra mile for them,” says John Gray Ltd quantity surveyor Douglas Taylor.
“We pride ourselves on our reputation for quality projects, our innovative and hands-on approach along with a proven ability to complete jobs on time and within budget. Our goal is to not only meet but to exceed our customers’ expectations, and to deliver projects in an efficient and safe manner.”
A registered CIRI (Construction Industry Register Ireland) contractor and a member of CIF (Construction Industry Federation), the company was set up by John Gray and now employs 10 people directly as well as many more on a sub-contract basis. The company’s annual turnover has grown significantly in the last six years.
“It’s a real team effort here. We employ a team of highly-skilled and creative people who are passionate about what they do. We have our own carpentry, groundworks and demolition personnel and sub out the rest of the work to the same tried and trusted roofing contractors, plumbers, block-layers, electricians, plasterers and other essential trades.”
John Gray Ltd is currently working on 20 different building projects throughout the South-East, including a number of new house builds, rebuilds and extensions. Most projects are typically valued at €250,000-€300,000.
“Thankfully, our business hasn’t been adversely affected by COVID-19. Most of our work is one-off house builds, residential and commercial refurbishments, school and social housing extensions. At the moment, we’re carrying out a number of rebuilds / extensions around the South-East.
“On the social housing side of things, we do a lot of refurbishments and extensions for Carlow County Council and are currently working on seven houses in Wexford Town,” Douglas explains.
Last year, the company completed one of its largest and most challenging projects to date which involved the transformation of the three-storey former Permanent TSB premises into the new Wexford Borough Office in Wexford Town. The accepted tender was for damp ingress and refurbishment works. On commencement and stripping out stage, the structural engineer discovered a significant structural issue in the basement floor, gable wall and pitched roofs. The project was paused for design development work and to allow shopkeepers to have uninterrupted trading during the busy summer months and Wexford Opera Festival. The building had very restrictive access and controls for traffic management.
John Gray Ltd has completed extensions to national schools in Gusserane, Ballyhack, Horeswood, Rosslare, Graiguenamagh, Thomastown, Castlebridge, Ballygarratt, Ballycanew and Raheen to name but a few. The Rosslare National School extension consisted of a 140m2 single-storey development, including fair-face cavity blockwork, a combination of pitched tile roof and Alkorplan flat roofs, and alterations to the existing school, including forming new opes and associated electrical and plumbing works.
The Castlebridge National School extension was also a single storey development which included fair-face cavity blockwork, combination of Tegral pitched and Alkorplan flat roofs, alterations to existing school, including forming new opes and associated electrical and plumbing works. The extension consisted of 180m2 with one classroom, two resource rooms, assisted toilet and storage area. The development was carried out in a single phase with painted fair-face internal finishes, tile and grid suspended ceiling and timber truss roof.
The Wexford firm also undertook a two-storey development of the Hacketstown Fire Training Centre for Carlow County Council, including fair-face cavity blockwork, precast concrete first floor, including associated electrical and plumbing works. The new 317m2 development was completed in a single phase with painted fair-face internal finished, tile and grid suspended ceiling, timber truss and Kingspan insulated roof panels with upstands for Velux rooflights.
In addition, John Gray Ltd was the main contractor and PSCS on a two-house single-storey extension and two-acre site clearance works in Bagenalstown for Carlow County Council. The project included extension, new roof and upgrade insulation, including associated electrical works.
Another turnkey project involved two two-storey houses in Rosslare for Wexford County Council. Scope of works included cavity blockwork, Tegral pitched roofs and site works. The development was built in a single phase with plastered internal and external finishes, timber truss roof, insulation and electrical, heating and plumbing services as well as connection to utilities and driveways.
Health & Safety has always been a priority with John Gray Ltd and never more so than in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak. John ensures that his team follows all the relevant guidelines and takes all the necessary precautions at all times.
John Gray Ltd would like to take this opportunity to thank its customers and suppliers for their continued support, and its staff and sub-contractors for their skill, hard work and dedication.
John Gray Ltd
Ballyconnigar,
Blackwater,
Enniscorthy,
Co. Wexford.
Telephone: 087 2873125 / 087 2344632
Email: [email protected]
This article was published in Building Ireland Magazine, January 2021, Vol 7 No 1
